The Ministry of Transport ("MOT") has recently issued the Measures for Administration of Field Scientific Observation and Research Bases for the Transport Industry (the "Measures") that will go into effect from November 1, 2019 and remain valid for five years, and the Development Plan for Construction of Field Scientific Observation and Research Bases for the Transport Industry (2019-2025).
The Measures consist of general provisions, administrative duties, application and accreditation, operation and management, assessment and evaluation, and supplementary provisions. In the section on "application and accreditation", clarification is provided in three aspects. First, it is clearly stated that field observation and research bases will be created via accreditation. Second, the basic conditions that an application for being accredited as a field observation and research base requires to meet, are set out. For example, a field observation base must "have the capacity of a certain level for scientific observation and experimental research, have been in normal operation for over three years and obtained data from systematic observation and experiment for more than three straight years, and be influential in the field concerned and capable of undertaking national and industry scientific research tasks". And third, the procedures for accrediting field observation and research bases are clearly specified.